Taki, Tracey and Totodile slept soundly, while a restless slumber incessantly stirred Louis.
In his dream, flashes of memory played like scenes on a movie screen. A Rapidash hurtled him through areas unknown, accompanied by the sounds or rotor whop and fire. Then, a blinding light emerged from his hand, while something formed words in his mind, in an unfamiliar voice;
Where are you, Miguel?
And then…he started falling.
This jolted the boy awake. He shook his head, in an attempt to clear his mind.
"Bad dreams?" said Tracey, witnessing the commotion.
Louis turned glanced to the young boy, noticing his concern.
"More like strange," he replied.
"I've had nightmares before, but this was different."
Nearby, Taki stirred next to Totodile, who fastened its head bow for the day's journey.
"Anyway…" continued Louis. "...we better pack up and get going."
"Already done," said Tracey, who spun, revealing a packed bag.
Soon, the group made their way downhill. Loose shale dislodged from underfoot and cascaded down the stone slope. The falling pebbles echoed off the rock face in a rumbling chorus.
Taki lead the way with Totodile trotting close behind. Louis and Tracey followed suit, with the latter furiously sketching absentmindedly. Tracey's foot slipped, having veered slightly off-course.
"Hey hey HEY!" yelled Louis, as he grabbed Tracey's shoulders, steadying him.
"Eyes on the road, buddy," continued Louis.
"Sorry," said Tracey. "I was busy drawing this."
Tracey presented Louis with a freshly made, and very accurate sketch of Totodile.
"Hey, that's really good," complimented Louis quietly, still distracted by the night's visions.
"You're not as chirpy as yesterday," said Tracey, picking up on the lowered mood.
"It was just a dream," replied Louis. "Don't worry about it."
Eavesdropping on the conversation, Taki drew her attention to Tracey and Louis.
"Oh?" she said, now intrigued at Louis' mood.
"I've been having some dreams, Taki," responded Louis.
"We all have those," said Taki.
– "No...these are different."
"How?" questioned the girl.
"They've been mixed memories and oddities, and…" Louis paused.
He then took a deep breath and spoke again.
"...something else," he finished.
Tracey stared at the boy with curiosity filling his spirit.
"What?" he questioned.
"I heard a strange voice repeating the same words over and over again," answered Louis.
"What did it say?" said Taki stopping in place.
"It said...'Where are you, Miguel?'," replied Louis.
Taki's face twisted.
"Miguel?" she said. "Who's Miguel?"
Louis cleared his throat before answering.
"...it's my Dad's name," he said.
Surprise swept through the group, stopping the rest of them in place.
"Is he...still around?" inquired Taki, cautiously.
"Huh? Oh yeah!" replied Louis. "He's just...sorta...busy."
"...how come you never told me this?" questioned the girl.
"I...couldn't figure out the right way to mention it" voiced Louis.
Taki walked uphill to the distressed boy and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Louis, you don't have to keep hiding this from us," she said with a comforting smile.
"We're a team, aren't we?" she continued.
Her effort relaxed Louis, slightly.
"Yeah, we are," he said. "It's just that...I think someone's looking for my dad."
The group absorbed this information as the ground began to level out below them. Soon, the dust from the mountains cleared in the cool air as they approached a luscious green forest.
"This must be Bleakwood Forest," said Taki.
"You've heard about this place?" questioned Louis.
"Yep. The chief said that some other tribespeople came here in the past."
Intrigued, Louis grinned.
"Wait...wasn't there a helicopter from Team Rocket in the sky last night?" asked Tracey.
"Oh! The helicopter!" yelped Totodile.
Louis grinned and said…
"That's where we're going."
All of a sudden…a shockwave beat through their chests, forcing Tracey onto his back, followed by a booming explosion.
"WHOA!" shrieked Taki.
"What just happened?!"
Tracey stared up at the sky from his vantage point on his back. Two dots, with smoke trailing, shot overhead, catching his eye.
"Hey! What's that?" he said, pointing upwards.
The rest of the group followed his gaze as Taki squinted. Louis was the first to recognise the bizarre haircuts accompanying the flying shapes.
"It's Cassidy and Mitch!" he shouted, pointing and laughing.
And...faintly, from the sky, came a response.
"IT'S BUTCH!"
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